Meanwhile, Iraqi federal police troops discovered a terrorist ammunition depot during operations in the Old City area, where they have been active for several weeks and have been facing tough resistance which is hindering their progress.

They are currently advancing through the city’s maze-like streets towards the al-Nuri mosque, where Daesh’s leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, announced the forming of the group’s so-called caliphate in 2014.

According to police Lieutenant Colonel Hussein Zughayer, around 1,000 rockets and 1,000 bags of chemical material used to make bombs and explosives were found in the cache.

A member of the Iraqi Federal Police works on a vehicle in an area controlled by the Iraqi forces fighting Daesh in western Mosul, Iraq, April 11, 2017.

"Troops found this depot during search operations of the district. The place was used by the Daesh to store rockets and use it against the civilians and the security forces," he added.

Iraqi army soldiers and pro-movement fighters have made sweeping gains against Takfiri elements since launching the operation to retake Mosul last October.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.